Henrietta's Wish eBook

“No, that will not do,” said Henrietta.
“Something must be actually wrong. Mamma,
do say what you think.”

“I think, my dear, that woman has been mercifully
endowed with an instinct which discerns unconsciously
what is becoming or not, and whatever at the first
moment jars on that sense is unbecoming in her own
individual case. The fineness of the perception
may be destroyed by education, or wilful dulling,
and often on one point it may be silent, though alive
and active on others.”

“Yes,” said Henrietta, as if satisfied.

“And above all,” said her mother, “it,
like other gifts, grows dangerous, it may become affectation.”

“Pruding,” said Beatrice, “showing
openly that you like it to be observed how prudent
and proper you are.”

“Whereas true delicacy would shrink from showing
that it is conscious of anything wrong,” said
Henrietta. “Wrong I do not exactly mean,
but something on the borders of it.”

“Yes,” said Aunt Mary, “and above
all, do not let this delicacy show itself in the carping
at other people, which only exalts our own opinion
of ourselves, and very soon turns into ’judging
our neighbour.’”

“But there is false delicacy, aunt.”

“Yes, but it would be false kindness to enter
on a fresh discussion tonight, when you ought to be
fast asleep.”

CHAPTER XI.

The Queen Bee, usually undisputed sovereign of Knight
Sutton, found in her cousin Roger a formidable rival.
As son and heir, elder brother, and newly arrived
after five years’ absence, he had considerable
claims to attention, and his high spirits, sailor
manners, sea stories, and bold open temper, were in
themselves such charms that it was no wonder that
Frederick and Alexander were seduced from their allegiance,
and even grandpapa was less than usual the property
of his granddaughter.

This, however, she might have endured, had the sailor
himself been amenable to her power, for his glories
would then have become hers, and have afforded her
further opportunities of coquetting with Fred. But
between Roger and her there was little in common:
he was not, and never had been, accessible to her
influence; he regarded her, indeed, with all the open-hearted
affection of cousinly intercourse, but for the rest,
thought her much too clever for him, and far less attractive
than either Henrietta or Jessie.

If she would, Henrietta might have secured his devotion,
for he was struck with her beauty, and considered
it a matter of credit to himself to engross the prettiest
person present. Had Beatrice been in her place,
it may be doubted how far love of power, and the pleasure
of teasing, might have carried her out of her natural
character in the style that suited him; but Henrietta
was too simple, and her mind too full of her own affairs
even to perceive that he distinguished her. She
liked him, but she showed none of the little airs which